OP  THE 

'  BAPTIST  SOCIETY, 

FOR 

OREIGN  JIND  DOMESTIC  MISSIONS, 

CONVENED  AT  THE 

CROSS  ROADS  MEETING  HOUSE; 
WAKE  COUNTY, 

AlONDAY,  AUGUST  6,  1821, 


FWETTEVTLLE  ! 
JPRINTED  BF  k.  H.  DISMUKKS. 
182% 


MINUTES, 


The  North  Carolina  Baptist  Society  for  Foreign 
and  Domestic  Missions,  convened  agreeable  to  ap- 
pointment, at  the  Cross  Roads  Meeting  House, 
Wake  County,  North  Carolina,  on  Monday  the  6th 
of  August,  1821. 

During  the  session  of  the  general  meeting  on 
Saturday  previous  to  the  Missionary  Meeting,  Rev, 
P.  Bennet  was  appointed  to  deliver  a  discourse  on 
the  subject  of  Missions  on  the  intervening  Lord's 
day,  which  appointment  he  fulfilled  in  an  animat- 
ing sermon  from  Gen.  49  chap.  10  verse. 

On  Monday,  the  6th  August,  1821,  the  Mission- 
ary Society  convened  as  above. 

1st.  Solemn  prayer  to  Almighty  God  for  his 
counsel  and  direction,  by  the  President. 

2d.  The  list  of  the  members  of  the  board  was 
called;  those  present  were  the  Rev  Geo.  Roberts, 
President;  Col.  Charles  M'Allester,  Vice  Presi- 
dent; the  Rev.  Messrs.  John  Landers  and  John 
Purifoy — Brother  Gurdon  Robins  being  present, 
offered  himself  as  a  member  of  the  society,  and  his 
name  was  accordingly  enrolled  among  the  mem- 
bers. 

9^ 


4 


3d.  The  brethren  present  were  invited  to  take 
a  seat  with  us,  whereupon  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Bennet, 
Crocker,  Weathers,  Lawson  and  brother  Neal 
accepted  the  invitation. 

4th.  Proceeded  to  the  choice  of  officers  for  the 
ensuing  year,  when  the 

Rev.  George  Roberts  was  elected  President, 

Col.  Charles  M'Mlester,  Vice  President  and 
Treasurer,  in  consequence  of  the  resignation 
of  brother  John  Campbell, 

Rev.  A.  W.  Clop  ton,  Cor.  Secretary, 

Bro,  Gurdon  Robins,  Bee.  Secretary, 

Rev.  John  Purifoy,  Auditor. 

Rev.  John  Landers, 
Messrs  M.  Neal, 

Gurdon  Robins, 
Joel  Battle, 
J.  Boberts, 
F.  Neal, 
E.  W.  Brown. 

5th,  Resolved,  That  the  following  persons  be, 
and  they  are  hereby  appointed  and  requested  to 
collect  funds  in  aid  of  this  society,  viz: — 
Messrs.  John  Oliver,  of  Duplin  county, 
Jeremiah  Battle,  of  Raleigh 
Gurdon  Robins,  of  Fayette  vile, 
Benjamin  Hester,  of  Granville  county, 
Thos.  Hallyburton,  of  Bethel  Church, 

Halifax,  (Va) 
Hoshea  M.  Neal,  of  Caswell,  near  Bush 
Arbour, 

—  ■  ■■  .  Womack;  at  Lich  FocL 


5 


6th.  Appointed  Brethren  Gurdon  "Robins  and 
Rev.  John  Purifoy,  Committee  of  Finance. 

7  th.  IWpoYt  of  the  Committee  of  ¥  inane  e. 
Received  by  the  hand  of  Col.  Charles  M'Aliester, 
from  the  Cape-Fear  Association  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sions,          -          -          -               8t3  80 
Rev.  Drvid  Thames'  subscription,       -        1  00 
Col.  Charles  M'Allester's  subscription,        5  00 
Eeceived  by  the  hand  of  Col.  C.  M'A! Jes- 
ter, from  the  Female  Mission  Society, 
near  Fayette ville,       -       -       -          20  59 j 
Gurdon  Robins'  subscription,       -              1  00 
Eeceived  by  the  hand  of  Bev.  G  Roberts 

from  the  Lich  Fock  congregation  -  9  10 
His  own  subscription,  -  -  -  1  00 
Rev.  John  Purifoy's  subscription,  -  1  00 
Brother  Brofoot's  subscription,  -  1  00 
Brother  Moses  Neat's  subscription,  -  1  00 
By  the  hand  of  Rev.  John  Landers,  for  bro- 
ther Patterson's  subscription,  -  4  00 
Dr.  J.  Battle's  subscription,  -  .  1  00 
Collected  after  sermon  on  Lord's  day,  15  01 
Do.  from  the  coloured  people  for  the  Afri- 
can Mission,       -  31 


874  Sl| 

8th.  Appointed  brother  Gurdon  Robins  t^wrTte 
a  letter  to  the  Female  Mission  Society  near  Fayette- 
ville,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of°820  59|  from 
them. 

9th.  Appointed  Rev.  John  Purifoy  to  write  a 
letter  to  the  Hyco  Female  Mission  Society,  acknow* 
iedging  the  receipt  of  815  36|  from  them. 

lOtlu  Heard  a  circular  letter  prepared  by  the 


President,  and  appointed  brethren  Landers  and 
Law  son,  with  the  President,  to  correct  and  revise  it 
for  the  press,  and  when  so  corrected  and  revised, 
llesolved  to  have  it  attached  to  the  minutes  of  this 

meeting. 

11th.  Appointed  brother  Gurdon  Robins  to 
write  the  next  circular  letter. 

12th.  Ordered,  that  the  Treasurer  forward  to  the 
General  Board  for  Foreign  Missions,  $100  before 
the  1st  of  May  next. 

1 3th.  Ordered,  that  the  present  Treasurer  settle 
'with  the  former  Treasurer,  and  receive  from  him 
all  monies,  books  and  papers  in  his  possession,  the 
property  of  this  society. 

14th.  Voted  the  thanks  of  the  society  to  the  in- 
habitants of  this  vicinity  for  the  truly  christian 
hospitality  with  which  they  have  received  and  en- 
tertained this  meeting. 

15th.  Resolved,  that  the  question  be  submitted 
to  the  next  annual  meeting  of  the  society,  whether 
our  Constitution  shall  be  so  amended  as  to  allow 
the  appropriation  of  funds  hereafter  collected  (ex- 
cept the  8100  designed  for  the  general  board)  to 
domestic,  as  well  as  Foreign  Missions,  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  society — Also,  whether  this  society 
have  a  right,  by  their  Constitution,  to  appropriate 
any  part  of  the  monies  already  collected,  to  Domes* 
tic  Missions. 

16th.  Appointed  brother  Gurdon  Robins  to  su- 
perintend the  printing  and  distribution  of  the  Min- 
utes of  this  meeting. 

17th.  Ordered,  That  500  copies  be  printed. 

18th.  Appointed  the  Rev.  George  Roberts  to 
preach  the  introductory  sermon  at  our  next  annual 
fleeting. 


7 


i  9th.  Appointed  our  next  meeting  to  be  held  ia 
the  Qity  of  Raleigh,  on  Saturday  before  the  first 
Lord's  day  in  August,  1822. 

20th.  Adjourned. 

During  the  time  occupied  by  the  Board  in  trans- 
acting the  business  of  the  society  in  the  Meeting 
House,  a  number  of  sermons  were  delivered  by 
sundry  ministering  brethren  from  the  stage,  to  a 
numerous  and  attentive  audience.  May  the  word 
delivered  prove  a  savior  of  life  unto  life  to  many 
souls. 

GEORGE  ROBERTS,  President, 
GURBON  ROBINS,  Secretary. 

The  Worth  Carolina  Baptist  Mission  Society, met 
at  Cross  Roads  Meeting-House  in  Wake  County, 
first  Saturday  in  August,  1821. 
To  t\\e>  "Friends  of  Go&^s  Spiritual  Zion,  and 
a\\  w\\o  ^visl\  ^vell  to  iW  Heathen  in  ovir 
o^n,  anA  other  countries,  and.  to  the  desti* 
tute  neighbourhoods  in  our  o^n  State  : 
Beloved  friends  and  fellow-citizens — 

We  hope  it  is  now,  and  ever  has  been,  our 
greatest  care  to  seek  the  honor  of  our  Divine  Sa- 
viour, and  the  interest  of  mankind  ;  in  order  to 
promote  which,  we  have  been  striving  to  propagate 
the  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God,  not  only  in  our  indi- 
vidual capacities,  but  to  make  collections,  and  to 
meet  annually  for  the  purpose  of  uniting  our  ener- 
gies to  send  the  word  of  life  to  the  most  destitute 
regions  wherever  we  could  find  access  We  have, 
and  do  still  think  it  our  duty,  to  aid  our  brethren  of 
the  Geueral  Board,  in  their  laudable  undertaking. 


to  send  Missionaries  amon^the  heathen  in  foreign 
countries,  but  especially  in  our  own  wilderness — 
We  hope  the  time  is  not  far  distant,  when  a  good 
and  gracious  God,  will  do  great  things  for  our  red 
brethren  in  America.  It  is  with  peculiar  pleasure 
we  hear  of  the  progress  of  Indian  schools,  as  well  as 
other  Missionary  labors  of  our  beloved  brother 
Posey  among  the  Cherokees  ;  also  the  exertions  of 
our  dear  brethren  at  the  Great  Crossing  in  Ken- 
tucky, together  with  a  number  of  -other  labourers 
among  the  savages.  Could  we  exert  ourselves  a 
little,  notwithstanding  the  pressure  of  hard  times, 
who  can  tell  what  our  Heavenly  Father  may  do. — 
We  expect  you  believe  with  us,  that  the  savages  are 
our  fellow  creatures,  and  have  precious  souls  to  be 
saved  or  lost.  If  the  Redeemer  looked  upon  one 
soul  worth  more  than  the  whole  world,  what  must 
be  the  worth  of  the  many  millions  who  are  perish- 
ing for  lack  of  Divine  knowledge.  Should  you 
think  this  too  high  a  calculation  of  the  worth  of 
souls,  then  look  to  Calvary  and  see  what  it  cost  the 
Saviour  to  purchase  his  people. 

How  truly  praiseworthy  is  the  conduct  of  our 
"benevolent  and  liberal  brethren,  the  Charleston  as- 
sociation, who  have  at  their  own  charges,  employ- 
ed a  missionary  for  some  years  to  preach  to  the 
Catawba  Indians,  and  perhaps  have  a  teacher  to 
instruct  their  youth  also.  If  God  has  given  us  all 
things  richly  to  enjoy;  has  blessed  us  with  bibles 
anil  bible  opportunities,  together  with  the  unspeak- 
able privilege  of  hearing  the  gospel's  joyful  sound; 
shall  we  not  make  some  use  of  these  good  things 
our  gracious  benefactor  has  so  liberally  bestowed 
upon  us,  to  civilize  the  heathen,  and  teach  them 
the  right  ways  of  the  Lord  ? 


9 


But  shall  we  forget  the  people  of  our  own  states 
many  of  whom  are  very  destitute  of  preaching,  and 
are  much  neglected  hy  our  society.    Is  it  not  a 
criminal  neglect,  to  suffer  a  large  extent  of  our  own 
country  to  be  without  what  we  call,  and  really  be- 
lieve to  be,  the  true  light  of  the  Gospel.    We  trust 
those  who  have  thrown  in  money  heretofore  for 
Missionary  purposes,  were  actuated  by  pure  and 
disinterested  motives — many  of  us  are  of  opinion 
there  is  a  Mission  wanting  in  our  own  state  of  'N. 
Carolina.    We  wish  some  information  at  our  next  ^ 
meeting,  which  will  be  held  in  Ealeigh,  first  Sa- 
turday in  August,  1822,  whether  those  who  have 
contributed  towards  the  Missionary  funds,  would 
still  think  the  fund  should  be  confined  to  Foreign 
Missions  ;  or  whether  they  are  willing  it  should  be 
in  part,  appropriated  to  send  the  preached  Gospel 
in  dark  and  destitute  places  in  our  own  benighted 
country.  The  General  Board,  in  a  late  publication, 
have  recommended  Domestic  Missions  in  the  seve- 
ral states  in  our  union,  which  may  not  be  improper 
to  give  the  public  in  their  own  words. — "Among 
the  resolutions  lately  adopted  by  the  Board,  they 
meditate  with  pleasure  on  the  plan  for  bringing 
Domestic  Missions  into  operation  ;  and  in  such  a 
way,  as  may  Remonstrate  wthe  affinity  between  the 
spirit  which  creates  these,  and  that  which  gives 
birth  to  Foreign  Missions.    It  is  proposed,  that 
influential,  pious  and  zealous  ministers  of  the  Gos- 
pel, be  selected  from  the  various  parts  of  the  Union, 
who  shall  perform  preaching  tours  in  destitute 
sections  of  the  country,  and  make  collections,  which 
shall  be  in  part  appropriated  to  meeting  the  en- 
gagements of  the  Board  with  them,  and  the  remain- 
der applied,  as  collections  may  have  been  ;uade,  to 


/ 


10 


the  concerns  of  the  Missionary  or  Education  de« 
parti uent.  The  remuneration,  is  at  no  time  to  ex- 
ceed the  sum  collected.  It  is  believed  that  men  of 
a  right  character  and  temper  for  the  work,  may  be 
found;  that,  with  the  blessing  of  the  Lord,  the  waste 
places  of  the  earth  may  become  fruitful,  and  a  Mis- 
sionary spirit  be  greatly  promoted." 

In  the  Boston  Association,  a  Missionary  has  been 
travelling  for  some  years  past,  the  account  of  which, 
together  with  his  useful  labour,  has  appeared  in 
the  Magazine.  Those  brethren  apply  part  of  their 
funds  to  these  Internal  or  Domestic  Missions ;  and 
also  aid  the  General  Board  in  their  very  useful 
operations. 

The  Chowan  Mission  Society  in  the  lower  part  of 
our  own  State,  has  six  Missionaries  appointed — 
these  w  orthy  and  useful  men,  have  in  part  been  tra- 
veling, the  past  year,  and  have  been  much  owned 
of  God.  Brethren  Bennett  and  Newbern,  have 
been  very  successful ;  the  Lord  has  added  many 
seals  to  their  ministry,  and  given  them  souls  for 
their  hire. 

Could  a  Mission  be  promoted  in  this  and  other 
parts  of  the  Union,  no  doubt  many  churches  would 
reap  great  advantage  by  it.  Many  brethren  are 
vv ithout preaching  ;  sonae  by  the  death  or  removal 
of  their  Pastors  ;  others  have  removed  themselves 
where  the  bounds  of  their  habitations  is  seldom 
enlightened  by  the  rays  of  the  sun  of  righteous- 
ness. How  great  have  been  the  advantages  de- 
rived trom  itinerant  preaching — -This  may  be,  and 
is  no  doubt,  in  a  partial  manner  kept  up  ;  but  could 
we  see  it  carried  on  as  it  formerly  was  In  the  days 
of  our  brethren  Bead,  Harris,  Webber,  Waller, 
James  Clulds  and  many  others,  who  knows  what 


happy  effects  might  result  therefrom.  What  it 
some  of  the  prophets  have  assendcd,  is  the  mantle 
of  Elijah  fallen  on  none  who  are  left  behind  ?  Some 
of  the  servants  of  the  Lord  are  wearing  out,  and 
many  have  finished  their  course  and  gone  to  the 
church  triumphant,  while  many  we  hope  are  still 
left  among  the  saints  below,  to  bear  the  burden  and 
toil  a  while  longer  ;  and  some  are  raising  up  to  fill 
the  place  of  those  who  have  finished  their  w  arfare  : 
Could  the  friends  of  Zion's  King,  and  Zion's  cause, 
feel  a  willingness. to  fcold  up  the  hands  and  affor^ 
aid  to  Missionaries  to  travel  by  aiding  the  funds, 
not  only  to  send  the  Gospel  to  foreign  perishing 
Heathens,  and  into  the  wilderness  among  the  Ame- 
rican Savages,  but  also  among  the  poor  perishing 
North  Carolinians,  who  are  many,  no  doubt,  under 
the  influence  of  the  gloomy  god  of  this  world. 

We  can  but  feel  a  sympathetic  tenderness  for  all 
who  are  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge^yet  as  the 
people  of  our  own  state  are,  or  ought  to  be  near  to 
us,  we  should  remember  the  words  of  the  Saviour, 
44  these  things  ought  ye  to  have  done,  and  not  to 
leave  the  other  undone. "  The  rich  and  fertile 
lands  of  the  Western  country,  Georgia,  £jc.  has  ta- 
ken off  a  number  of  ministers  from  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina ;  but  whi^e  there  are  any  to  labof* 
for  God  and  the  good  of  souls,  let  us  be  much  en- 
gaged in  prayer  to  God  for  them,  that  he  would 
make  them  very  useful,  and  revive  his  work  in  our 
hearts,  and  in  all  the  churches,  and  carry  it  on 
wherever  it  is  begun  ;  and  may  our  fervent  prayers 
and  cries  be  to  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send 
more  labourers  into  his  harvest;  and  may  we  en- 
courage the  hearts,  and  strengthen  the  hand  of 
those  God  has  given  us?  that  they  may  go  out  into 


iz 


-/the  high  ways  and  hedges,  and  compel  many  to 
come  in,  that  his  house  may  be  filled.  Missiona- 
ries, or  travelling  preachers,  have  ever  been  the 
most  useful  men  in  the  world — witness  Whitfield 
Miller,  Tan-horn,  Gano,  §c.  Sjc.  who  were  like  a 
gels  flying  through  the  midst  of  Heaven,  havi 
the  ever  lasting  Gospel  to  preach  to  them  w 
dwell  on  the  earth. 

May  a  gracious  God  hasten  the  time,  whe 
Gospel  of  the  Redeemer  may  spread,  the  anti-c 
fian  powers  be  overturned,  and  true  ^ml  vital 
gion  be  experimentally  known  ;  a  universal  r 
mation  take  place;  which,  may  the  good  Lord 
ten,  for  Christ's  sake*  Amcn* 


• 


This  bookmust  not  be 
taken  from  the  Library 
building. 


